VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) vs Multpl
Start here
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
Free · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want calendar, alerts, and APIs & data feeds.
Pick Multpl instead if
Multpl
Free · Web
- You want real yields and financials.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, macro data and data visualizations), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) simply does more: 7 categories to Multpl's 4, including calendar, alerts, and APIs & data feeds, plus a mobile app. Multpl counters by being completely free.
What readers say
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
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Multpl
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
- Broader coverage
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)7 vs 4 categories
- API access
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
- Asset coverage
- MultplAdds stocks and bonds
- Free plan
- Both
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: api key required: Yes and Free: api rate limited: Yes | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (FRED Add-in) | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Students/Researchers, Analysts +1 more | — |
Categories covered | 7 | 4 |
Regions | — | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
| Try it | Visit FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) | Visit Multpl |
Where each one shines
What FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl each do best.What FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) does best
- Search across and chart hundreds of thousands of economic and financial data series from many official and third-party sources.
- Research coverage for macro topics such as GDP, inflation, prices, employment, exchange rates, interest rates, credit, monetary data, and market indicators.
- Browsing access to by categories, releases, sources, and tags, with series metadata for units, frequency, last update, and next release where available.
- FRED charts for visualization, sharing, embedded graphs, graph images, and saved graph workflows with a free account.
- Monitor the economic release calendar for scheduled release dates and times, while accounting for provider timing and availability caveats.
What Multpl does best
- Simple charts and tables for S&P 500 P/E, Shiller CAPE, price-to-sales, price-to-book, earnings yield, dividends, earnings, and sales series.
- Review macro and rates series such as CPI, inflation, GDP, Treasury yields, real yields, population, and income statistics.
- Switch between monthly and yearly table views where supported to move from chart context into spreadsheet-style review.
- On-page source and methodology notes that cite providers such as S&P Global, U.S.
- Current end-of-day timestamps on popular series for lightweight market-context checks.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Other | StocksBondsOther |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Students/ResearchersAnalystsQuants/Developers | Not specified |
Regions | Not specified | North America |
Coverage details | Not specified | Countries: US |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Not specified |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (FRED Add-in) | Not specified |
Export formats | ExcelImageJSONXML | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisCountry: United StatesSupport: Email | MultplSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 3/5UX 3/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Freeapi key required: Yes · api rate limited: Yes | Free |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) leans toward macro data, data visualizations, and calendar, while Multpl puts more weight on data visualizations, macro data, and real yields. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl cost?
Good news: both FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or Multpl on my phone?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Multpl doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or Multpl have an API?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Multpl doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or Multpl?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) if calendar and alerts matter to you; go with Multpl if you'd rather have real yields and financials. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl cover?
Both cover other. Multpl adds stocks and bonds on top.
Can I export data from FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and Multpl?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) exports to Excel. Multpl is stingier about getting data out.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.